Rescue Races To Kienitz
	Photo By RAP :: Race Action Photography

2007 IHBA Chowchilla Supernationals, promoted by the IHBA, was almost every racers dream, and every spectators dream show.
Buses constantly shuttled fans from a nearby adjacent parking lot to track side, throughout the day. Water trucks kept the dust to a minimum

and the strategically placed speakers echoed cool tunes under the hot sun.

"River racers to the staging lanes", was the am boat wake-up call, and wake up they did!

Sleepy eyes opened wide when Greg Tedesco in the TFH 702 staked his claim to fame, nailing the TFH to the floor, scoring #1 Qualifier, with

lowest ET (4.766) and Top Speed of 250.62 MPH. Tedesco has failed for three consecutive years to cross the finish line under power, no fault

of anyone in particular just lousy luck and a finicky boat. The team is on track and Greg proved the boat was finally out of it's slump.

Greg's primary concern was with his attitude, not the boats performance. He said, "I've waited three years for this, now I just need to stay

calm.

Another TFH playing 'The Waiting Game', is Glen Wilson. He has consecutively run quarter mile ET's that would rock the charts if he could

continue the pace to the finish line. The team is tight and works by the clock but the boat is being un-cooperative. They do get down the

finish line under power, but not the power that they want. Joe Cassidy, invested in extra fuel so Glen Wilson could perform two extra

exhibition passes to please the crowd. Chowchilla is Toxic Rockets home turf and the all-volunteer team worked two weeks straight to prep the

boat for the race. The team is tight, but the time wasn't right.

Tony Pulido arm wrestled the 122 TAF when it tried to grapple it's way towards a crash. The boat stubbornly resisted. Pulido suffered payback

by the Taf when late Saturday, sporting a borrowed block, fell from competition. You and I could shake hands through the gaping holes, that

tunneled through the block, leaving the crew with a 3-4 inch oil clean up (within the hull), and a dismantling diagnostics chore.

Bud Rathke almost spanked Bill when he ran a faster pass. After a little twitching Bill regained his composure and made it clear why he was

considered "King Of The O00s" with a 8.000 Qualifying run.
On Sunday, during the semi-finals, Bill found himself all geared up with nowhere to go. After a longer then normal staging wait, he almost

fell asleep on the ropes, with a reaction time of over 4 tenths of a second.

Bill wasn't the only hot racer sweating it out on the ropes. The others, being a decade or more younger, faired better as they watched the

debris from Greg Kienitz crash get cleared from the track. Greg who started off with a perfect run, whirled like a kite in a storm, hanging

onto the boat until the bitter end. The sweet part is a coherent, concious Greg appears to be okay, other than the damage to his right leg,

and a small blue egg on his forehead. Gregs right foot tore up the inside gear and wiring section of the SE 889. The bitter part is the boat

is from a mold and repairs to the rear right section and left sponson may be out of the question due to the weight factor.

Speaking of sponsons, John Swanson, now dubbed "One Sponson Swanson", was looking like a champagne celebration was in order. A few goodies he

had on ice were the lowest ET, fastest MPH, #1 qualifying position and a finalist contender. At the semi-finals light the TAH refused to go

into gear, and when it finally did, we all heard the pop, and it was not the sound of a champagne cork. TAH #846 broke off the rope, while

racing Mike Fry, who red lit by-.90. Swanson was unable to make the callout for the finals, leaving Kent Price with a solo run. Kent Price,

who has endured more than his share of bad luck over the past year or so, ran a daring pass that earned him his spot in the semi-finals,

with a 5.494 ET at 214.48 MPH. Kent, considering the crashes and expenses he has endured recently, was expected to cruise down the quarter

mile for his final trophy run. Kent Price, not a cruisin type of guy, decided to please the fans with a whammer of a pass, and ran a 5.448 ET

at 218.06 MPH with a reaction time of .087.

How good does a reaction time get. Not usually 0.000 thats for sure. Don Ermshar was a force to be reckoned with, but his .001 RT left

Heidemann in the rear winning Ermshar the TAF trophy. His pass was almost identical in ET and MPH to the prior run, he made earlier in the

semi-final round, against his 'adopted' son, Andy Dement. It appeared Ermshar ran the fastest pass ever in TAF #674, Mako Force, with a 6.623

ET at 165.68 MPH. The mans like a fine wine, simply getting better with age.

Now while on the subject of age, if Charlie Fegan ever retires from the IHBA it is rumored he will start a rock band called Jeopardy, with

the role of lead singer. His practice sessions currently air as fillers from the IHBA announcers booth.

Stay safe, so we can see, your face in a race.